Regina Rush-Kittle
Deputy Commissioner
Regina Rush-Kittle serves as the Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, appointed effective January 2019. Deputy Commissioner Rush-Kittle started her law enforcement career in 1983 with the Connecticut Department of Correction. In 1985, she was hired by the Middletown Police Department as a Patrol Officer. Two years later, she was hired by the Connecticut State Police, where she rose through the ranks becoming a State Police Sergeant, Lieutenant, Major, and Commanding Officer of a barracks and district.
As a junior at UConn, Rush-Kittle enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. After completing her initial enlistment, Rush-Kittle transferred to the United States Army Reserves, where she served as a Drill Sergeant, First Sergeant, Sergeant Major and Command Sergeant Major. Concurrently, while serving in dual law enforcement and military careers, Deputy Commissioner Rush-Kittle deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and again in 2009, completing a tour of duty in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During this deployment, she was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Deputy Commissioner Rush-Kittle retired from the military in 2012, after completing 30 years of military service.
In August 2015, after completing 30 years of service to the State of Connecticut, Deputy Commissioner Rush-Kittle joined the Millbury, Massachusetts Police Department, where she served as second-in-command for the department until February 2017.
Deputy Commissioner Rush-Kittle holds a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Western New England College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Connecticut. She is a graduate of Homeland Security Leadership Academy, 2nd Session; the FBI National Academy, 244th Session, and; the U. S Army Command Sergeants Major Academy. She has completed numerous executive level training courses and incident command level training. Deputy Commissioner Rush-Kittle is the recipient of many recognitions, commendations and military awards, and was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame in 2017. In May 2019, Deputy Commissioner Rush-Kittle was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Criminal Justice Degree by the University of New Haven.